Section for Structures and Relative Structure

ABSTRACT

A section with a “T” profile comprising a rib and a plate which extends from a first to a second end. The section having, in proximity of at least one of said ends, a coupling element suitable to engage with a further section, and the rib comprising at least one engagement aperture shaped to house said coupling element. Advantageously, the coupling element comprises an attachment base to the rib which projects at least partially from the section with a free end, and a tongue elastically flexible and connected to the attachment base. The tongue is bent towards the attachment base at said free end so as to form an angle of incidence with the attachment base, and is provided with a coupling hole suitable to engage with at least a first tooth of the engagement aperture.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a section for structures, preferably offalse ceilings and a relative structure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is known of in the art to make structures for false ceilingscomprising a plurality of sections mechanically coupled to each other.

The sections of the prior art have a “T” profile comprising a centralrib, a plate perpendicular to the central rib, and coupling elementspositioned on the lateral ends of the rib.

The coupling elements engage mechanically on dedicated apertures made onthe central rib.

The solutions of the prior art are rather complex and expensive toproduce.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The purpose of the present invention is to overcome the drawbacks andlimitations of the solutions of the prior art and, in particular, toprovide a section which is simple and economical to produce whichensures reliable assembly.

Such purpose is achieved by a section according to claim 1 and by astructure according to claim 10.

Other embodiments of the present invention are described in theremaining claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will beclearly comprehensible from the description given below of its preferredembodiments, made by way of a non-limiting example, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a side view of a section according to one embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 shows a side view of the section in FIG. 1, from the side shownby the arrow II in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a cross-section view of the section in FIG. 1, along thesection plane III-III in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 shows a view of a structure comprising sections according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 5 shows a cross-section view of the structure in FIG. 4, along thesection plane V-V in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 shows a cross-section view of the structure in FIG. 4, along thesection plane V-V in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of the section illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of three sections according to theinvention in an assembly position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The elements or parts of elements common to the embodiments describedbelow will be indicated using the same reference numerals.

With reference to the aforesaid drawings, reference numeral 4, 4′globally denotes a section, in particular for structures 8, having amain longitudinal extension X-X from a first to a second end 12, 16.

The section 4 has, in proximity of at least one of said ends 12, 16, acoupling element 20 suitable to engage with a further section 4″.

The section 4 comprises a rib 24 and a plate 28 positioned perpendicularto the rib 24 so as to form an overall “T” section.

Preferably the rib 24, on the side opposite the plate 28, comprises alongitudinal stiffening element 42.

The rib 24 comprises at least one engagement aperture 36 shaped to housesaid coupling element 20 and positioned between said first and secondends 12,16.

The coupling element 20 comprises an attachment base 40 to the rib 24which projects at least partially from the section 4 with a free end 44,and a tongue 48 elastically flexible and connected to the attachmentbase 40.

For example, the attachment base 40 is attached to the rib by riveting,welding, gluing and/or threaded connection means.

Advantageously, the tongue 48 is bent towards the attachment base 40, atsaid free end 44 so as to form an angle of incidence with the attachmentbase 40.

The tongue 48 is provided with a coupling hole 52, and the engagementaperture 36 defines at least a first tooth 56 suitable to engage withthe coupling hole 52 of the flexible tongue 48.

According to one embodiment, the engagement aperture 28 has a first pairof guides 60 positioned on opposite sides to the first tooth 56, andsaid coupling element 20 has a first pair of tabs 64 overhanging theattachment base 40; said guides 60 co-operate so as to slide with thetabs 64 to guide the engagement of the coupling element 20.

According to a further embodiment, the engagement aperture 36 defines atleast a second tooth 68, opposite the first tooth 56 in relation to acentreline plane M-M of the engagement aperture 36 orthogonal to themain longitudinal extension X-X, to permit the contemporary restraint oftwo coupling elements 20 of two separate sections 4′, 4″.

According to a further embodiment, the engagement aperture 36 has asecond pair of guides 72 positioned on opposite sides to the secondtooth 68, to permit the guided engagement of two coupling elements 20 oftwo separate sections 4′, 4″.

Preferably, said centreline plane M-M is also a plane of symmetry forthe engagement aperture 36.

The free end 44 of the attachment base 40 preferably has a pair ofshoulders 76 which define a limit stop in the insertion of theattachment element 20 inside the engagement aperture 36, said shoulders76 abutting against the rib 24.

The free end 44 may have a pair of bevelled drafts 80 to facilitateinsertion of the attachment element 20 inside the engagement aperture36.

The sections 4, 4′, 4″ of the present invention may advantageously beassembled to each other to form a structure 8, in particular to supportfalse ceilings.

Said structure 8 (FIGS. 4, 6) comprises a plurality of sections 4, 4′,4″mechanically connected to each other so that the attachment element 20of a first section 4′ engages in the engagement aperture 36 of a secondsection 4″.

As may be appreciated from the description, the section according to theinvention makes it possible to overcome the drawbacks presented in theprior art.

In particular, the section is economical and simple to produce.

In addition, the section guarantees a reliable mechanical connection andstability of the structure obtained by the interconnection of suchsections.

A person skilled in the art may make numerous modifications andvariations to the sections described above so as to satisfy contingentand specific requirements, all contained within the sphere of theinvention as defined by the appended claims.

1. Section in particular for structures, having a main longitudinalextension from a first to a second end, the section having, in proximityof at least one of said ends, a coupling element suitable to engage witha further section, the section comprising a rib and a plate positionedperpendicular to the rib so as to form an overall “T” section, the ribcomprising at least one engagement aperture shaped to house saidcoupling element, the engagement aperture being positioned between saidfirst and second ends, wherein the coupling element comprises anattachment base to the rib which projects at least partially from thesection with a free end, and a tongue elastically flexible and connectedto the attachment base, the tongue being bent towards the attachmentbase at said free end so as to form an angle of incidence with theattachment base, the tongue being provided with a coupling hole, theengagement aperture defining at least a first tooth suitable to engagewith the coupling hole of the tongue.
 2. Section according to claim 1,wherein the engagement aperture has a first pair of guides positioned onopposite sides to the first tooth, and said coupling element has a firstpair of tabs overhanging the attachment base, said first guidesco-operating so as to slide with the first tabs to guide the engagementof the coupling element.
 3. Section according to claim 1, wherein theengagement aperture defines at least a second tooth, opposite the firsttooth in relation to a centreline plane of the engagement apertureorthogonal to the main longitudinal extension, to permit thecontemporary restraint of two coupling elements of two separatesections.
 4. Section according to claim 3, wherein said centreline planeis also a plane of symmetry for the engagement aperture.
 5. Sectionaccording to claim 3, wherein the engagement aperture has a second pairof guides positioned on opposite sides to the second tooth, to permitthe guided engagement of two coupling elements of two separate sections.6. Section according to claim 1, wherein the attachment base is attachedto the rib by riveting, welding, gluing and/or threaded connectionmeans.
 7. Section according to claim 1, wherein the free end of theattachment base has a pair of shoulders which define a limit stop in theinsertion of the attachment element inside the engagement aperture, saidshoulders abutting against the rib.
 8. Section according to claim 1,wherein the free end has a pair of bevelled drafts to facilitateinsertion of the attachment element inside the engagement aperture. 9.Section according to claim 1, wherein said rib, on the side opposite theplate, comprises a longitudinal stiffening element.
 10. Structure, inparticular to support false ceilings, comprising a plurality of sectionsaccording to claim 1, wherein said sections are mechanically connectedto each other so that the attachment element of a first section engagesin the engagement aperture of a second section.